Ice cube makers



C. M. ASHLEY ICE CUBE MAKERS Dec. 25, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Julyl. 1950l INVENToR. BY W f/ FIC-).3

C. M. ASHLEY ICE CUBE MAKERS Dec. 25, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July l1950 JNVENTQR. BY M77' FIG.6

Dec. 25, 1956 C. M. ASHLEY ICE CUBE MAKERS Filed July l 1950 68 F l G .7

69 sok 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

BY Z

`and means to harvest the formed pieces of ice.

ICE CUBE MAKERS Carlyle M. Ashley, Fayetteville, N. Y., assignor toCarrier Corporation, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of DelawareApplication July 1, 1950, Serial No. 171,621

15 Claims. (Cl. 62-4) This invention relates to devices for formingsmall pieces of ice and more particularly to `a device for forming icecubes for use in restaurants, bars, hotels or similar places in which alarge quantity of small pieces of ice is consumed within a short periodof time. The term cube is employed herein to dene a small piece of iceof any desired geometrical configuration and is not limited to a pieceof ice of specific geometrical contour.

The chief object of the present invention is to provide an ice cubemaker in which the ice forming elements are designed to form separatepieces of ice of` predetermined size and geometrical contour.

. matically melted from the walls of the tubes and transferred to astorage chamber.

A further object is to provide an ice cube maker dapted to formtransparent, separate pieces of ice in vertically extending tubes from astream of water ilow ing through the tubes and including mechanism for`rendering the machine wholly automatic in operation whereby the iceforming and harvesting operations are conducted cyclically until adesired quantity of ice is formed and then the operation of the machineis discontinued, operation commencing again automatically when apredetermined portion of the formed pieces is consumed.

A still further object is to provide a piece of ice so formed as toincrease greatly the area thereof adapted to be placed in heat exchangerelation with a liquid to be cooled thereby decreasing the time requiredto cool the liquid. Other objects of my invention will be readilyperceived from the following description.

This invention relates to an ice cube maker comprising,

in combination, at least one hollow ice forming element,`

a plurality of bands having a heat conductive value greater than theelement placed in spaced relation to each other and in contact with theexterior of the element, means to direct a stream of water through thehollow element in contact with the interior wall of the element, arefrigeration system including an evaporator placed in heat exchangerelation with the bands to form spaced pieces of ice within the interiorof the element,

Automatic control mechanism is provided to regulate the ice forming andharvesting operations as well as to discontinue and resume operation ofthe machine upon the i `formation of a desired quantity of ice and itsconsumption. i

This invention further relates to a piece of ice having a predeterminedexterior contour and having an opening `ice piece of a `liquid to becooled, theinteriorwall of the"ice piece surrounding the openingbeing soformed s United StatesI Patent O ice as to provide an hour glassconguration to the opening.

The attached drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention,in which Figure 1 is a front view partly in elevation and partly insection of the device of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan View, the casing being removed, of the device shownin Figure l;

Figure 3 is a view in elevation, the casing being removed, of one sideof the device;

Figure 4 is a view in elevation, the casing being removed, of theopposite side of the device;

Figure 5 is an isometric View of the ice forming element assembly;

Figure 6 is an isometric view of one ice forming element, showing theconstruction thereof;

Figure 7 is .a diagrammatic view of the refrigeration circuit;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of the water circu1t;

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical circuit for thecontrols; and

Figure 10 is a sectional view of an ice cube formed in accordance withthe present invention.

Referring to the drawings, there is disclosed the ice cube maker of thepresent invention which includes a machine compartment 2 and aninsulated ice storage compartment or bunker 3 placed below the machinecompartment. Preferably, these compartments are formed as separateelements, being attached to Ione another when the ice cube maker isIassembled at. the place of use in order that the machine compartmentmay be utilized with bunkers of dilerent capacity. It will lbeunderstood, of course, that the machine may be formed as a single unitif desired although suc-h practice is not as satisfactory commercially.

Machine compartment 2 includes standards 4 and braces 5 formingsupporting framework. Decorated removable met-al sheets 6 are attachedto the frame to form the walls of the machine compartment. If desired,compartment `2 may be insulated to prevent condensation on the surfacesof sheets 6. Storage compartment 3 is provided with an yopening 7through which ice enters the storage compartment 3 after its formationin machine compartment 2. Slidable lids 8 are provided to permit easyaccess to and removal of ice from compartment 3 for use.

The machine elements are placed and supported in compartment 2. Suchelements include the ice forming members, the refrigerating andharvesting system, the water supply system, the controls and electricalcircuit connecting the controls.

The 4ice forming member 9 includes a plurality of vertically extendingtubes 10 formed of stainless steel or other low conductivity material,the tubes 10 having a plurality of copper bands or rings 11 placed aboutthe exterior thereof, the bands 11 being spaced from one anotherlongitudinally of the tube. The copper bands may be preformed andsecured to the tubes by a friction tit or if desired molten copper maybe sprayed on the tubes to form the bands. The tubes 10 are assembled intwo parallel rows and an yoverllow trough 12 is placed between theparallel rows for a purpose hereinafter explained.

Each tube 10 is formed from a single sheet of metal in such manner thatits side walls 13 incline downward and outward substantially uniformlythroughout the length of the tube so that the opening 14 in the bottomof the tube is greater in area than the opening 15 in the top of thetube. Two adjacent side walls as shown in Figure 6 have tlanges 16 and17 extending outwardly therefrom, the anges 16 and 17 being pressedtogether and spot welded, for example, to form the tube. The top of eachtube is formed with a pitcher lip 18.

Preferably, each tube 10 is about seventeen inches in length andpossesses an interior perimeter of about ve ir icl 1es the y totalinside area of each tube plied be'lieated 1 t animee being abouteightyve square inches. The Hrate of `cn`ducta`nce through the tube isapproximately two B. t. u.s per hour per square inch of insidearea;attheportions ofthe tubes f with which the bands are in kcontact,tliei-'atefof 'conductance is approximately eight B. t. ufs' .pfrlnir'per'v 'square inch of band area. .I have foundthat'thefratesvof'on ductance described abovefperrnitfmost satisfactoryresults to be achieved. HWhile- 'such' rates .'rnaybe varied, it' willbe appreciated substantialvarianc'e preventsfrrnation of spaced piecesof ice or'l renders 'the operation i'neHicient.

The evaporator 19 o'ffthef'ref'rigeration "systemis' formed of aplurality of coils"2, 21,"22,23,cilsi20,21'being seopposite sides ofthe'hsecond 'row oftubes" 10,1" If desire-d,

M"sure agreater'areaoficontact'with"bands.11.

Below the ice farming me' bers isaihelinedineecto'r or'guide24 on'which'tl'i'pi'ece's of' ice fall fr oin tubes ,f during the harvesting.operationalid down whichthe ice'slides intobp'enin'g`7 ofb'unker32"."Deec`tor24'may be "a suitable'screen or' grid tp'rmitwater o'passthere- .through while vpreventing passageof ic t as hereinafterexplained. Q Referring to'Figure 7;;th'ei-eis` shownthegrefrigerating'andharvesting circuit of the ice" cube nalieri`""Such*-cir 'cuitincludes a semi-'hermetic compressor-motor unit; the compressor" 28beingactuated b'ymotor 29'; Compressor 28`islc'onnected by'dischargelinei 30 tocondenser 3'1,`pref j erablywatepcooled'altI-roughifde'si'red, anair cooled condenser "may be employed. lLiquid linel32"includes 'twoca'pillary tubes 33,` 34 adapted to'serve as expansionmeans to regulate supply of liquid refrigerant to evapora- 'jtor`19;I Astrainer 35may b e placed inline 32 between M'condenser 31 landcapillaries`` 33, 34. Other expansion means may be employed if desired.Capillary. 33'supplies "refrigeranttocoils'20, 21;capillary 34 suppliesrefrigerant tocoils 22, 23"." Refrigerant passes from leach of.'coils'g20, 211,22, 23 into `a'ret'u'rn'head'er 36 for return to'compressor 2 8. vv"Header"3 6'is connected by line 37 toac'cumulator'38. "A liner 39 connectsaccuinulator 38'toa`sec'ondaccumula- 'tor 40.y Accumulator 40 is'connectedby'suction line 41 to thecompressorl 28.; Accumulator 40 is' jalso connected byf'adrain line 42tthevrnotor 29 to permit oil and liquid V refrigerant in Laccumulator4t)4to pass to' the motori"l This is an importantffeature sincefanyliqu'idrefrigerant Adrainjingfrom accumulato":r` 40'f'with thel oil visreturnedto the f vcompressor 28 over' the heated coils of the"rinotor thus "j"flashing'ithe' refrigerant `to assure that gaseous 'refrigerant vf onlyfreturns to-the3compressor thereby avoiding excessive wear and tear ofcompressor lelernents.

capillaries 33; sa-arewrappedabutfaenmuiatr as in lheatfexchange-re'lation'therewith 'i' In addition, 'fthe 'capillaries 'may beplacedinhe'aVeXchange relatioil'fwith "'1 line 39 ifdcfsired.

A' heated refrigerant vapo'rfline 43 connectsthetop of it` de'si'red,the uisit that the 'refrigerant so suporder that'formed pieces 'of icemay be `thawed o'r=m'elted quickly fromthe "interior" walls'l of"ffitubes 10. A InFi'gure 8f, the water distribution systerny is showndia- .f grammatically. Line 50'-l conductsiwate'rffrom'fa source' "ofsupply (not'shown) vto'- a 'sump o'rlreservoir` 5,'1 placed f inthe'bottom of ma'chine'coinpartment `2tbelow`tubes 10 andtleilector-24;"A float 'valve A52' r"e'gulatcs the'evel of water irrsump 51.' A drainline 53'fs'e'rves to bleed a minor. amount of waterlcntinuouslyf from.the'asump therebyV preventing concentration vof minerals in. the .wa-

ter in the sump. A pump P circulates water from sump 51"tl'1rough"lines5'4' towater headers 55` placed (refer to Figures 2 and 8) above therows of tubes 10.

Water from headers 55 is discharged against distributors 56 placedwithin tubes 10, the distributors directing or guiding the water towardor against the interior walls of tubes 10. The waterclows through tubes10 in contact with the interior Walls.,thereof,.,through deector 24 andreturns or falls'into sump`5L`The water, of course,

10.., is. -cooledfby-,its passagetthroughythetrefrigeratedatubes 10 1 tosubstantially..freezing.temperaturezlhusfcooled or chilled water notformed into ice is continuously recirculated through the-tubes. 10,..ther`eby.,reduc ing the time required' for ic'e` formation andconsiderably increasing the capacity of-thema'chine.

When passage of water through tubes 10 is prevented or retarded by theformation of ice therein, the tubes overflow, the lip 18 on eachtubedirecting the Water into trough 12 from whence it.takes a differentpath to lreturn to. sumpv 51. "The overow water in troughf 1 2 drains"'.therefromthrough a'line 57 connected to an lS- shaped pipearrangement 58 .which forms an overflow well.l Waterfrom well 58 returnsto sump 51 through linejj59. One leg 60 of overflow well 58 is clampedin contact "with the hea'tedlrefrigerantvapor line 43 of thejrcfrigcrav"tion systemv forja `purpose hereinafter explained.

To control the refrigeration `and harvesting cycles, a

""g" wide differential-thermostatic control 65 is provided whichincludes a switch 66 (refer to `Figure 9) actuated by a thermalresponsive system including a bellows 6 7-con nected to the switch lever66 and a capillary tube 68 con- `'l'lecting the bellowsI 67 `with a bulb69. The thermal responsive system contains a temperatureIrespontsiveftll.

Bulb 69 is placed in overow well 58 and a portion 68 of capillary tube-68 is placed in contact with the suction line 41. Preferably, portion 68is' placed in contact-'with *i the portion of suction line 41 adjacentcompressor- 28 to assure that it is affected asy little as possible byliquid refrigeran't flooding back to the compressor 28 if such -oodingback occurs. During the 'refrigerati-onfcycle, thermostat 65 is governedby portion 68 in contactlwith "--'suction'line 41 since ythat is thecoldest portion of the` thermalfresponsive system Iand thefill-condensatecollects in i' lportion 68'.) When, however, wateroverflows from Vtrough '1 12y vintowell 58, it displaces water presentinthewell and gradually cools bulb 69 until it becomes theycoldest-point of the thermal responsive lsystem therebygoverningthermostat 65 from suchpoint rather than capillary tube porition? 68; rvSwitch 66 is accordingly moved from-a first if position toVa second position to vdiscontinue operation of 'I t'pump P- andtoactuate the solenoid S of valve 46 toopen the'heated refrigerantvaporlline 43 to supply heated refrigerant vapor to` coils 20, 21,22, 23tothaw. formed 1' pieces 'of ice `from the interior `walls `ofztubes10..:.;During theharvesting operation, the hot gas line 43 Vwar-msithewater in the well 58 so that the lcontrolLpofnt.again shifts i to.'portion 68 of capillary tube 68 which is'in contact with.thefsuctionline 41.* Refrigerant passing through thesucftionline is`belowthe cut-in point of thermostat so .long as ice remains .in tubes10. t As soon as theflastpiece of-ice -isremov'edfrom tubes 10,..temperature in. the-suc- "onfline rises' and the thermostatisagain:actuated.tostart pump rRJ and to'discontinue. current ow to:solenoid S ai ktherebyI closing valve 46 .and resuming the.refrigeration 651.;v cycle.

f =A second .normally closed thermostat control 'l-ispro- .t 'videdto.discontinue-.operation ofthe regrigerationfsysrftemlandthepump when'adesired quantity of ice is present in ythe bunker. Control 70 includes aswitch lever 71, a

'ZG-.bellows `72,connected by capillary. tubet73 to yabulb 74 l .placedin thebunker 3 adjacent the.top.thereof. A suitable. illis present inbellows 72,.capillaryttubelligand ,vbulb 74. When ya predeterminedquantity of ie is present in bunker-3,` bulb 74is cooled therebyactuatingthermo- 'La .stat 7 0 toppen. the` circuit tti-control 6.54and...thezrcomarrange pifssr, discontinuing operation ofthe system.Upon removal of ice from bunker 3, bulb` 74 warms to a"p`oint at whichthermostat 70 isagain actuated to close the circuit, permitting supplyof `current to actuate 'the comrence of a pressure so high that it might`harm elements of the system.

In Figure 9, I have shown the electrical circuit connecting the variouscontrols .and actuating elements of the device. A manual switch 76 isemployed to actuate the device. The remaining elements are connected in.the circuit as shown.

`The refrigeration system and controls are more fully de- `:scribedandclaimed in the copending application of David E. MacLeod, Seri-al No.171,593, led July l, 1950, to which reference is made fora completedescription.

Considering the operation of the device, manual `switch t '76 is closedthereby actuating motor y29 .to operate com- ,pressor` 28 of therefrigeration system and pump P `to supply water from sump 51 to headers55 for distribution .in tubes 10. Water ows downward over `the interi-or'walls of tubes 10 and returns to sump 51. The walls of tubes arerefrigerated at spaced portions by means of coils 20, 21, 22, 23 and thecopper bands 11. Thus 'water liowing `through the tubes -is cooled andwithin a rshont time ice begins to form within the tubes adjacent .therefrigerated portions thereof. As ice formation continues, within ashort time, the spaced pieces of ice present in the tubes are so largeas to impede or retard passage of cooled water therethrough so that thetubes overow `into trough 12.

Water from trough 12 flows through line 57 into overt flow well 58displacing the water .therein and cooling bulb 69 so that it becomes thecontrol point rather than capillary portion 68'. When a predeterminedlow point is reached, thermostat 65 is actuated moving switch lever 66from a rs't position to a second position discontinuing op eration ofpump P and passage of water to tubes 10, and actuating solenoid S tomove valve 46 to an open position permitting heated refrigerant vapor toflow into coils 20, 21, 22, 23 to thaw the `formed pieces of ice from.the interior walls of the tubes 10. Simultaneously, water in `well 58,being in heat exchange relation with line 43, is heated to shift thecontrol point of thermostat 65 ,to capillary porton 68.

Capillary portion 68 does not become sutliciently warm to actuate thethermostat 65 until all ice is removed from the tubes 10, since it is inheat exchange relation primarily with liquid refrigerant condensed byheat exchange ,of the heated vapor with the formed ice in the tubes 10.

Ice drops from the tubes 10 by gravity upon deector 24 and slides intobunker` 3. As soon as the last piece of ice is removed from the tubes,the hot vapor passing into line 41 raises the temperature thereof4thereby actuating thermostat 65 to move from its second position to itsfirst position, closing the solenoid valve 46, resuming refrigeration oftubes 10 and starting pump P to supply water from sump 51 through tubes10. The refrigerating and harvesting cycles repeat automatically until apredeter-mined quantity of ice is formed. When a predetermined quantityof ice is collected in bunker 3, thermostat 70 is actuated to break theelectrical circuit discontinuing operation of the machine. Upon removalof ice from bunker 3, thermostat lil is again actuated to `beginoperation of the machine.

The piece of ice formed by the present machine is designed for rapidcooling of the liquid in which it is placed. Referring to Figure l0,there -is shown a transparent cube of ice formed by the present machine.The cube may be of any desired contour depending upon the shapes oftubes 10 and has' a circular opening 81 extending therethrough from oneside of the cube to its opposite side to provide access tothe interiorofthe cube of the liquid" being cooled. 4The interior walls 82 of the cube80 `are so formed as to provide an hour glass configuration to the`operated machine for formingseparate pieces of ice. The `machine isparticularly adapted for use in restaurants,

hotels, `taverns, `bars or the like in which a large quantity of ysmallpieces of ice is consumed during dailyoperation. The machine so providedgreatly decreases `the cost of ice consumed in such places of use. Themachine is simple and does not require more than occasional attentionvsince it is designed to operate automatically as required by the demand-for pieces of ice. The ice forming elements :are inexpensive and highlyeicient in opera-tiem The time required for forming and harvesting adesired quantity of ice varies, of course, with ambient temperature andthe temperature of the water supplied to the ice forming elements. Thepresent invention permits the water supplied to the ice forming elementsto be precooled thereby reducing the length of `the refrigeration cycleand greatly increasing the capacity of the machine.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it willbe understood my invention is not limited thereto since it may beotherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

Iclaim:

l. i In an ice cube maker, the combination of Ia hollow ice formingelement, a plurality of bands substantially ysurrounding the exterior of|the element and being placed rin spaced relation to each other, saidbands having a -heat conductive value greater than the element, means todirect a stream of water through the hollow element in contact with theinterior wall of the element, a refrigeration system including anevaporator placed in heat exchange relation ywith the bands to formspaced pieces of ice within the interior of the element, and means toharvest the formed pieces of ice.

2. An ice cube maker |according to claim 1 including mechanism fordiscontinuing flow of water ythrough the element during the harvestingoperation.

3. In an ice cube maker, lthe combination of a stainless steel hollowice forming element, a plurality of copper bands substantiallysurrounding the exterior of the -stainless steel element and beingplaced in "spaced relation to each other, means to pass Ia stream ofwater through the hollow element in contact with the interior wall ofthe element, Ka refrigeration system including an evaporator placed inheat exchange relation with the copper lbands to form spaced pieces ofice within the interior of the stainless steel element, and means toharvest the formed pieces of ice.

4. An ice cube maker according to claim l in which the i'ce formingelement is formed of a Isingle metal sheet having each side formed at asubstantially right angle to the adjacent side, two adjacent sidesterminating in outwardly extending anges in contact with each otherthroughout the length of the element.

5. In an ice cube maker, the combination of a casing, a plurality of iceforming tubes placed adjacent one another in said casing, 4a pluralityof .spa-ced bands having a heat -conductive value greater than the tubesplaced Iabout the exterior of each tube, `a sump in the casing, means topass a ystream of water from the sump through the Itubes, the stream ofwater returning to the sump, a refrigeration system lincluding anevaporator placed in heat exchange relation with the bands to formspaced pieces of ice from water llowing through lthe tubes, harvestingmeans, means to actuate the harvesting means, a storage chamber forpieces of ice placed in a plane below the bottom of the tubes, and meansto direct pieces of ice passing from Ithe tubes `to the storage chamber.

6. An ice cube maker according to claim 5 in which

